11.15.2009

Georgia fallout: Gene Chizik speaks

Hey everyone. Hope you're having a swell afternoon. It's sunny and unseasonably warm throughout Alabama today, so perhaps that has given you a chance to get out and feel good.

I'm sure last night may have elicited a headache or two.

Anyway, here's what your head coach had to say about things.

On Auburn's run defense: We were really playing the run well. When Eltoro went out, that certainly didn't help our cause. That's not an excuse. For a good bit of that game, we were playing the run well. We've got to be able to sustain that through four quarters."

On Freeman's health: ``I don't know. We'll have to play that one by ear."

On why Auburn's running game wasn't very effective: ``A lot of it was execution on our part. They've got a really good front seven. They got off blocks as well as anybody we've played. We had our chances to hit some runs in there."

On the play of freshman LB Jonathan Evans, who took over for Freeman: ``For getting being abruptly thrown in there, he did well. He came in there and did an adequate job."

On the late-game penalties: ``It's very disappointing -- and they're by veteran guys. That's really, really disappointing. These are guys you're counting on to win ball games for you. You can't even pinpoint something on a game -- but in those critical situations, without questions, I think it's a lack of concentration and attention to detail."

On why Demond Washington didn't return the final kickoff: ``At that point, Demond was pretty blown. He had about had it at that point."

On if he knew Washington was that fast: ``I did know he was that fast. He's one of the fastest kids on the football team without question. We had to have a guy who could make a difference back there."

On Auburn's plan this week: ``Our plan right now is to practice three days this week and try to give them a day and a half off until Sunday. They need tomorrow and Tuesday off. They need those two days to just regenerate, recharge their batteries. They'll be focused and ready to come back."

On the need to get a full signing class next year: ``Strategically, we'll have to be right on. We've got a lot of scholarships to fill."

On Auburn's immediate recruiting needs (ie who they're trying to enroll before spring ball): ``We know we need to get an offensive tackle. That's got to happen in January. It's got to be the perfect fit. Maybe two offensive linemen. If it's the right fit, we have no problem with (junior-college kids)."

On the need to find more safeties: ``We've got a couple high-school guys in mind. We're pretty good with where we are right now at that position. We'll know more about how we'll proceed when we gather a little more information about the health of our guys here."

It's great to be an Auburn Tiger! I said, it's great to be an Auburn Tiger!

I hate losing. It is one of the things I hate worse than anything!! It kept me awake last night, fretting over losing a game we should have won.

But, I keep reminding myself that this was going to be a tough year. In many ways it has exceeded my expectations. I just got a little spoiled in those first few games. But I love the track we are on. Great days are ahead for Auburn.

Cincy ...It IS great to be an Auburn Tiger!!! I was reminded of that at halftime while at a gathering of about 20 UGA fans and 12 AU fans. We shared funny and treasured memories of past games and events. I know that some of the other folks that live in Ga. will be targets of serious grief this week, I'm happy to say that I won't.

stillwatching the game,inthe 2nd half now. UGA wr's were blocking downfield all night. Guess what, they were not holding so the ref could see it.Did Isay how I am ready for Trott to leave? Why isn't Lutz playing?

well, after posting more than I can recall in a while last night, I woke up today and was satisfied with my criticisms of the game. I am disappointed in this team, because we know they can play very good football at times, i.e. UT, WVU, OM. Nonetheless, I actually looked it up.. In Saban's first year, UAT went 6-6 regular season, including consecutive losses to LSU, Miss St. ULaMo, and us. I am sure they thought the world was ending, but they seem to be doing ok the past 2 years. I hope/assume/expect us to be in the same situation next year. In addition, when we beat UAT, Fl loses to FSU or UAT, and TX loses in the BigXII CG, who do you think the BSC takes, TCU, Cincy, or Boise St. to the NC game? What a wonderful world that would be.

OK, I saw the int where Adams was WIDE open. adams was on the right side and after 10 yards was looking back over his right shoulder. He was about 5 yards from the sidelines.Todd threw it to the center of the field.Ziemba got shoved 8 yards into the backfield. He was backpedaling and almost beat the snap back to Todd.

I can't wait for the Saturday after Thanksgiving. I'll be home, exhausted after hours of futile cheering of my beloved Auburn Tigers, not to mention the 1000 mile drive in 2 days. But at least I'll be able to start the recovery process then.

THT,I am ashamed of that attitude! It is never futile to cheer on our beloved Tigers. And where is some positive thinking? NO ONE gave us a chance in 1989 when bama came to the Plains undefeated and ready to be crowned National Champions. I expect better from you. C'mon - buck up!! You know I love ya :)

Cincy - have you been smoking funny weed? Of course Auburn was going to win the '89 Iron Bowl. I was 90% sure of that one. We had an outstanding team. As for this year.... no, we don't have a chance, unless AU team & UA-T team I haven't seen this year show up.

We have a shot, primarily due to the potential for Elroy to help us. We always have a shot against Alabama. We have an offense with the potential to hang with them, but our defense will have to play better than I have seen them play this year for us to win.

If anyone is listening, did you just hear what the announcers were saying about Jerraud Powers? They said the coaches were very impressed with how prepared he was and how much football knowledge he came into the pros with. They predicted him a future pro bowler. War Eagle!

I was truly disappointed in the game last night. I was sure we were going to win it even up and until the last pass fell incomplete.We shot ourselves in the foot so many times I thought it was time to make it up and score. We didn't so I am still upset. I know, who cares but me.

digger-it does no good. I watched three + quarters of the replay tomight. it wasn't pretty the second time either. i am over it now. Time to move on. All the wailing and gnashing of teeth doesn't change anything. And besides, no matter whatI say, the coaches will not listen to me nor seek my advice (not saying they shouldn't they jsut won't)

i love auburn, always will, but many fans dont have much faith in us for the last game, check ebay ans stubhub, lots of auburn fans selling to enthusiastic bama fans, hell with those prices listed even I am being swayed...its hard because I dont want bammers in my seats, but that much cash, on the day after thanksgiving...mmmmm, my heart will win out but $600.00 helps

The preceding list includes just a few of the fine, young Auburn men who will do their utmost over the next two weeks to help Auburn beat Alabama on Nov. 27.

Let's make sure that we as Auburn fans do our part and show up and support them in this endeavor. I think this team deserves that from us at least. They may not be a 2004 vintage, they may not have Heisman or Outland trophy winners, they may not be Amazin', but they are Auburn Tigers, and that's what matters.

Back from Athens and yesterday's terrible experience with a McDonalds hamburger that I ingested around 2:00 a.m. on my trip home Sunday morning. A very long and miserable day yesterday, but I'm feeling much better this morning.

Enjoyed meeting Sensi and experiencing that debacle Saturday night with him. Don't know where the Auburn team went after that 1st quarter, but I do know our D was gassed. It was hard to watch. I know they were exhausted. Of course, it took forever to get out of Athens, and sorry to say there were several fights outside the stadium as we were walking to our car. Some drunk girl was yelling at us that all these Auburn fans were making her puke. I really don't think that was what was making her sick, but oh well. I'm sure she felt as bad as I did yesterday!

On to the the Iron Bowl! I'll be there. I'll be loud. These young men have had a long season. They deserve our support.

So, you couldn't bring yourself to rank Iowa in your Top 25 this week? Interesting.

You can't seriously be that obtuse as to believe Iowa isn't one of the Top 25 teams in the country??

I realize you write for some small hick paper in Alabama, and that either Auburn or the Crimson Tide is probably your favorite team...(and I'm sure the SEC is probably all you really care about)....but to not even rank Iowa is truly beyond simple southern boy bigotry.

I don't know, Jay. Yes Iowa has 2 losses, but they played pretty good football Saturday, especially for starting a freshman QB. I have to say I think they deserve to be ranked more than USC. I can't believe USC is still ranked 22. And I'm really not too impressed with Miami still ranked 21. Is Ohio St at 9-2 really good enough to be ranked 9? And Iowa at 9-2 is out of your top 25?

I kinda think they have a gripe :) Course I don't know how you ranked these other teams.

RK- Rosegreen was an awesome Safety no doubt, but Powers has mad skillz. I think he may end up being a better pro CB than Rogers. Time will tell, but I was always impressed with the guy. I thought he was about as shutdown of a corner as one could expect.

I take full responsibility for the loss Saturday. I wore my road white Auburn shirt instead of my orange and blue striped lucky Auburn shirt. I also spent most of the day with Georgia fans in Georgia, but away from the game site. Surely one of those things must have affected the outcome.

Personally, I am not going to be too critical of any one player. There were a lot of missed opportunities, and football is a team sport. I am pleased with the season the team has had. It certainly has been better than I imagined it would be. I also think that they will show up for Bama.

I expected 7-5, though I didn't know the exact route we'd take to get there.

btw, I hereby proclaim the THT household as the one filled with the most hate for UA-T. Anybody else have their children written out of the will if they go to UA-T? That was MrsTHT's idea. I love that woman.

ok, its official, wife and I cant make the iron bowl, so tell the hotties, 2 seats are for sale, section 43, lower, roq 38, near the exit, good bathrooms, scoreboard side, not the jumbotron side. hotties have first dibbs and or auburn fans, they are on stubhub as well.

It is a beautiful Monday morning an I do feel better.Thanks to the hotties that supported me last night. Hope to see some Iowa corn pone hikes on here telling us how great a 2 loss team they have in Maize country. Southern Cal being in the top 25 just shows the bias prevelant in the polls. And they say no team has privilages LMFAO.

DL-I could not do any better myself. He gets some heat, but the coaches no ALOT more than I do.

I realized early on (after the ARK loss) that this team is really a stop the bleeding group. Unfortunate for the seniors, but maybe they will be remembered as the group that turned this program back to the updside.

Eddie-you are on to something. IF,IF ,IF, IF Au still had Marks and Powers on D, and the kids that were kicked off this summer (2 that probably would have played a lot if not started)we would have a different team. Can't control that and the players made their choices. You just have to roll with the punches.

The future is bright. Look where we were last year. We have coaches who are recruiting, and recruiting hard. We have the #1 recruit out of MS, AR, and LA. They are looking for OL to join the team in Jan. Our veterans just need to get their heads into the game. I would also like to see more plays to Eric Smith. And where is Lutz? Trott could not hold a block Saturday, or if he did, he was holding!

Did anybody see the pics of the UGA campus in the aftermath of the game? Those people absolutely trash their campus. They did it after last year's Bama game too. I've never seen that in Tuscaloosa or Auburn.

Digger, you can see the trash cans in the photos. They were everywhere. They also had people walking around giving out trash bags. They asked us if we needed one when we entered the parking garage. They even show a clip on their big screen asking fans to clean up after themselves. They have a real problem.

not yet. Spent yesterday in Atlanta watching the Atlanta and Tampa games with friends, drove to Jax last night so I wouldn' have to drive all the way . I was lucky to not have to work today or yesterday wouldn't have been fun.

I am jeopardizing a streak a week from Friday. I have never seen AU lose an Iron Bowl at JH. I've been at all the ones we've won, and missed the two we lost. I'll be there this time, so hopefully my streak will live on!